This story of the unfolding of the North American map follows a chronological sequence. The narrative of a complex theme can be easily followed, yet a clear sense of locality is conveyed throughout. This stands in contrast to the actual American discoveries whose protagonists were often lost and mistaken as to their whereabouts. Considering their surroundings and circumstances, they frequently preferred to be lost in order to preserve their hopes, to back their dreams, and to finance their adventure. It would not have served any purpose to recognize and admit where the explorers had been and what they had actually seen. This is certainly true of some Iberian participants in the North American discoveries who were looking for Quivira and “another Peru.” Therefore, at least four types of information need to be sifted concerning any locale: the actual and the perceived site, and the news about it as it was recorded and received.
Professor Quinn reconstructs the Spanish routes and discoveries with the help of archaeological data, and by describing the historical landscape. His intimate acquaintance with the eastern seaboard, and the wealth of data assembled for his many prior works, including studies of social and economic phenomena, make his account of colonial activities in the Atlantic regions, from Labrador to Florida, the most authoritative available.
Although the Indian’s experience of European discoveries lacks native records, the author uses the available literature to keep the problem in the forefront. His view from the other side of the Atlantic helps to explain Spanish decisions and behavior, as in his presentation of the Huguenot-Spanish conflict, which is a good corrective of North American traditional accounts. The book has copious detail and is comprehensive in scope. For the Spanish part, it draws on authoritative editions and current literature. It breaks new ground by the overall vision of the North American continent before 1612 for the New American Nation series.
